Steam generator iron

Abstract

The present application relates to a steam generator iron. The steam generator iron has a steam passageway along which steam flows, the steam passageway having a first section ( 13 ) and a second section ( 16 ) extending from the first section ( 13 ). A flow stabilizing element ( 24, 35, 38 ) is disposed at the transition of the steam passageway from the first section ( 13 ) to the second section ( 16 ). Therefore, the generation of noise at the transition and the flow resistance in the steam passageway is minimized as steam flows along the steam passageway. The present application also relates to an insert for a steam generator iron.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A steam generator iron comprising a steam passageway along which steam flows having a first section, and a second section extending from the first section, the second section being configured to have a different geometrical configuration to the first section, wherein a flow stabilising element configured to minimise vortices and/or turbulence is disposed at the transition of the steam passageway from the first section to the second section, wherein the steam passageway comprises a third section extending from the second section, the flow stabilising element extending to the transition of the steam passageway from the second section to the third section, wherein the steam passageway extends around a corner such that the steam passageway in the second section extends in an opposing direction to the first section. 
     
     
       2. A steam generator iron according to  claim 1 , wherein the first section defines a cyclonic chamber and the first section is configured to generate a rotational flow of steam and water in the chamber. 
     
     
       3. A steam generator iron according to  claim 1 , wherein the flow stabilising element extends into the first section. 
     
     
       4. A steam generator iron according to  claim 1 , wherein the flow stabilising element is formed from a mesh or a foam. 
     
     
       5. A steam generator iron according to  claim 4 , wherein the flow stabilising element is formed from an intertwined metal wire mesh. 
     
     
       6. A steam generator iron according to  claim 5 , wherein the intertwined wire mesh is formed from a wire having a diameter of 0.01 mm to 2 mm. 
     
     
       7. A steam generator iron according to  claim 6 , wherein the intertwined wire mesh is formed from a wire having a packing density of 5% to 80%. 
     
     
       8. A steam generator iron according to  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the second section of the steam passageway is smaller than the diameter of the first section. 
     
     
       9. A steam generator iron according to  claim 1 , wherein the orientation of the longitudinal axis of the second section of the steam passageway is different to the orientation of the longitudinal axis of the first section of the steam passageway. 
     
     
       10. A steam generator iron according to  claim 9 , wherein the second section extends from a side wall of the first section. 
     
     
       11. A steam generator iron according to  claim 1 , wherein the second section comprises a tubular portion with a free end of the tubular portion protruding into a flow path formed in the first section, the transition to the second section from the first section being formed at the free end of the tubular portion. 
     
     
       12. A steam generator iron according to  claim 1 , further comprising a head unit and a base unit, wherein the steam passageway is disposed in the head unit and a water receiving chamber and/or a steam generating unit is disposed in the base unit and water and/or steam is supplied from the base unit to the head unit through a hose. 
     
     
       13. An insert for a steam generator iron comprising a flow stabilising element configured to minimize vortices and/or turbulence and to be disposed in a steam passageway of a steam generator iron and having at least one steam flow path formed therethrough so that, when the insert is disposed in a steam passageway, the flow of steam along a steam passageway is stabilised, wherein the steam generator iron comprises the steam passageway along which said steam flows having a first section, and a second section extending from the first section, the second section being configured to have a different geometrical configuration to the first section, wherein the flow stabilising element extends to the transition of the steam passageway from the second section to a third section extending from the second section, wherein the steam passageway extends around a corner such that the steam passageway in the second section extends in an opposing direction to the first section. 
     
     
       14. A steam generator iron comprising a steam passageway along which steam flows having a first section, and a second section extending from the first section, the second section being configured to have a different geometrical configuration to the first section, wherein a flow stabilising element configured to minimise vortices and/or turbulence is disposed at the transition of the steam passageway from the first section to the second section, wherein the steam passageway comprises a third section extending from the second section, the flow stabilising element extending into the transition of the steam passageway from the second section to the third section. 
     
     
       15. A steam generator iron according to  claim 14 , wherein the first section defines a cyclonic chamber and the first section is configured to generate a rotational flow of steam and water in the chamber. 
     
     
       16. A steam generator iron according to  claim 14 , wherein the flow stabilising element extends into the first section. 
     
     
       17. A steam generator iron according to  claim 14 , wherein the flow stabilising element is formed from a mesh or a foam. 
     
     
       18. A steam generator iron according to  claim 17 , wherein the flow stabilising element is formed from an intertwined metal wire mesh. 
     
     
       19. A steam generator iron according to  claim 18 , wherein the intertwined wire mesh is formed from a wire having a diameter of 0.01 mm to 2 mm. 
     
     
       20. A steam generator iron according to  claim 19 , wherein the intertwined wire mesh is formed from a wire having a packing density of 5% to 80%. 
     
     
       21. A steam generator iron according to  claim 14 , wherein the orientation of the longitudinal axis of the second section of the steam passageway is different to the orientation of the longitudinal axis of the first section of the steam passageway. 
     
     
       22. A steam generator iron according to  claim 21 , wherein the second section extends from a side wall of the first section. 
     
     
       23. A steam generator iron according to  claim 14 , wherein the second section comprises a tubular portion with a free end of the tubular portion protruding into a flow path formed in the first section, the transition to the second section from the first section being formed at the free end of the tubular portion. 
     
     
       24. A steam generator iron comprising a steam passageway along which steam flows having a first section, and a second section extending from the first section, the second section being configured to have a different geometrical configuration to the first section, wherein a flow stabilising element configured to minimise vortices and/or turbulence is disposed at the transition of the steam passageway from the first section to the second section, wherein the steam passageway comprises a third section extending from the second section, the flow stabilising element extending to the transition of the steam passageway from the second section to the third section, wherein the first section defines a cyclonic chamber and the first section is configured to generate a rotational flow of steam and water in the chamber. 
     
     
       25. A steam generator iron according to  claim 24 , wherein the flow stabilising element is formed from a mesh or a foam. 
     
     
       26. A steam generator iron according to  claim 25 , wherein the flow stabilising element is formed from an intertwined metal wire mesh. 
     
     
       27. A steam generator iron according to  claim 26 , wherein the intertwined wire mesh is formed from a wire having a diameter of 0.01 mm to 2 mm. 
     
     
       28. A steam generator iron according to  claim 27 , wherein the intertwined wire mesh is formed from a wire having a packing density of 5% to 80%. 
     
     
       29. A steam generator iron according to  claim 24 , wherein the diameter of the second section of the steam passageway is smaller than the diameter of the first section. 
     
     
       30. A steam generator iron according to  claim 24 , wherein the orientation of the longitudinal axis of the second section of the steam passageway is different to the orientation of the longitudinal axis of the first section of the steam passageway. 
     
     
       31. A steam generator iron according to  claim 30 , wherein the second section extends from a side wall of the first section. 
     
     
       32. A steam generator iron according to  claim 24 , wherein the second section comprises a tubular portion with a free end of the tubular portion protruding into a flow path formed in the first section, the transition to the second section from the first section being formed at the free end of the tubular portion. 
     
     
       33. A steam generator iron according to  claim 24 , further comprising a head unit and a base unit, wherein the steam passageway is disposed in the head unit and a water receiving chamber and/or a steam generating unit is disposed in the base unit and water and/or steam is supplied from the base unit to the head unit through a hose.